By Pamela Haines Book review by Mary Ann Petersen What rings true? Something with “that clear and certain sound.” This book by Pamela Haines is short and dense with content. It is part of the series Quaker Quicks. As Haines describes it, she assembled the book from a series of essays and meditations she had composed over… Continue reading That Clear and Certain Sound
Category: Quaker
Office Hours
I’m holding office hours Saturdays 11:00-1:00. Drop-in, in-person or zoom option. Stop by if you need to check-in. No need to sign up in advance. Keeping office hours creates a window for inquiry. A structured framework for interaction. I have friends who host office hours. They said often no one comes. I am prepared to… Continue reading Office Hours
Quaker book review
Quakers Do What! Why? by Rhiannon Grant Reviewed by Mary Ann Petersen I am convinced again, Friends! Credit goes to Quakers Do What! Why?, a 72-page booklet from Quaker Quicks, written by Rhiannon Grant. In it, she takes the reader through a wide range of beliefs and practices of unprogrammed Quakers, using a friendly, conversational… Continue reading Quaker book review
Flotsam & Jetsam
If you don’t know what to do, pick up litter at the beach. It’s never the wrong move. At one point I am alone by the surf and this is where loud singing is released. I went to Heceta beach in Florence to pick up trash and I remembered a Mary Oliver poem that goes… Continue reading Flotsam & Jetsam
Plastic Fantastic
At first it all feels futile. Quickly, I find the connection with those who give a shit. It suddenly feels great. I agreed to to help Quakers with a modest plan to gather plastics and offer them to the plastic gods. I volunteered to be a drop-off place and ended up pulling a bike trailer… Continue reading Plastic Fantastic
Emotionally curious
I walked quickly by a chatty neighbor’s house but he popped out his door at the last moment- “hey Mary Ann!” I was caught and thought argh, no, not now, I’m busy. I stopped, backtracked, turned around to face him and noticed he had bruises and stitches on his face. He remembers nothing but being… Continue reading Emotionally curious
Perception
“Steps to becoming conscious are one perception at a time.” Caroline Myss also said consciousness is about the task of refining our capacity to discern truth. We can discern what is true and what is not true. Awareness is the needed ingredient. It helps us recognize from the tiniest perceptions when we are being led… Continue reading Perception
Quaker horoscope
I was talking to a man about the pain in his leg and through our conversation we realized we were both Virgos and born the same day. The next time we talked, I started to mention my rising sign, but instead blurted out “Quaker” and we both looked surprised. I said, oops, Quaker isn’t… Continue reading Quaker horoscope